Delosperma plant named ‘WOWDRY1’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Delosperma  plant, ‘WOWDRY1’, characterized by its compact and horizontal plant habit, its relatively small leaves, its very floriferous and long blooming flowering habit, and its large flowers with petals that are magenta pink on the outer region and yellow and white towards the center of the flower surrounding yellow and white petaloids.

Botanical classification: Delosperma cooperi.

Variety denomination: ‘WOWDRY1’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is co-pending with U.S. Plant Patent Applications filed for plants derived from the same breeding program that are entitled Delosperma Plant Named ‘WOWDOY3’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/987,585), Delosperma Plant Named ‘WOW2011-1’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/987,575), Delosperma Plant Named ‘WOWDAY2’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/987,588), Delosperma Plant Named ‘WOWDRW5’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/987,584), and Delosperma Plant Named ‘WOWDW7’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/987,577).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Delosperma plant, botanically known as Delosperma cooperi ‘WOWDRY1’ and will be referred to hereinafter by its cultivar name, ‘WOWDRY1’. The new cultivar of Delosperma is an herbaceous perennial grown for container and landscape use.

The new cultivar was derived from a controlled breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Katsuta-Gun, Okayama-Pref., Japan. The overall purpose of the breeding program was to develop new cultivars of Delosperma plants with low-growing and well-spreading growth habits combined with long flowering periods and a unique range of flower colors.

‘WOWDRY1’ was selected in the Inventor's trial garden in summer of 2011 as a single unique plant from amongst the seedlings derived from self crossing an unnamed plant from the Inventor's breeding program, ref. code HANADRY 1001, in summer of 2010.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by softwood stem cuttings in summer of 2011 by the Inventor in Katsuta-Gun, Okayama-Pref., Japan. Asexual propagation by softwood stem cuttings has determined the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘WOWDRY1’ as a unique cultivar of Delosperma.

-   -   1. ‘WOWDRY1’ exhibits a compact and horizontal plant habit.     -   2. ‘WOWDRY1’ exhibits a very floriferous and long blooming         flowering habit; blooming about 8 months.     -   3. ‘WOWDRY1’ exhibits large flowers with petals that are magenta         pink on the outer region and yellow and white towards the center         of the flower surrounding yellow and white petaloids.         The parent plant of ‘WOWDRY1’, ref. code HANADRY 1001, differs         from ‘WOWDRY1’ in having a taller plant habit, in blooming for a         shorter time period, and in having smaller flowers. ‘WOWDRY1’         can be most closely compared to the cultivar ‘Jewel of Desert         Ruby’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,453). ‘Jewel of Desert Ruby’         differs from ‘WOWDRY1’ in having smaller flowers that are red on         the outer portion and magenta and white on the lower portion of         the petals and yellow petaloids, in having a shorter bloom         period, and in having a shorter plant height. ‘WOWDRY1’ can also         be compared to cultivars with co-pending patent applications         from the same breeding program, which are similar in plant         height and in having large flowers.

‘WOWDRY2’ has flowers with petals that are red on the outer region and yellow towards the center of the flower surrounding yellow petaloids.

‘WOW2011-1’ has flowers with yellow petals and yellow-green petaloids.

‘WOWDRW5’ has flowers with petals that are magenta pink on the outer region and white towards the center of the flower surrounding white petaloids.

‘WOWDW7’ has flowers with white petals and white petaloids.

‘WOWDOY3’ has flowers with petals that are orange on the outer region and yellow towards the center of the flower surrounding yellow petaloids.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Delosperma. The plant in the photograph is 3 months in age as grown in a 9-cm container in an unheated greenhouse in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of ‘WOWDRY1’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of a flower of ‘WOWDRY1’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the foliage of ‘WOWDRY1’.

The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Delosperma.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of 3 months-old plants of the new cultivar as grown in 9-cm containers in an unheated greenhouse in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—Blooms for about 8 weeks from spring into             fall in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands.         -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.         -   Plant habit.—Compact, well-spreading, prostrate.         -   Height and spread.—Reaches about 10 cm in height and about             23.1 cm in diameter.         -   Cold hardiness.—Observed to be hardy to U.S.D.A. Zone 7.         -   Diseases.—No more susceptible or resistant to diseases than             other Delosperma cooperi varieties.         -   Root description.—Fibrous roots, primarily 162D in color.         -   Propagation.—Softwood stem cuttings.         -   Growth habit.—Moderate. -   Stem description:     -   -   Shape.—Round.         -   Stem color.—145C, strongly tinged with 182B, older stems             196B to 196C AND 199D.         -   Stem size.—Average of 11 cm in length and 2.7 mm in             diameter, branch internode length is 2.7 cm.         -   Stem surface.—Moderately glossy, moderately covered with             very short glandular hairs; average of 0.2 mm in length,             155C in color.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, average of 9 lateral             branches. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Ligulate, triangular in diameter, succulent.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Cuneate.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Leaf venation.—No veins visible.         -   Leaf margins.—Entire.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Leaf surface (upper and lower surface).—Slightly glossy,             slightly pubescent with very short glandular hairs, average             length 0.2 mm, 157D in color.         -   Leaf color.—Young upper surface; 143A, young lower surface;             143A to 143B, mature upper surface; 137A to 137B, mature             lower surface; 138A.         -   Leaf size.—About 2.8 cm in length and 4 mm in width.         -   Leaf quantity.—Average of 10 per lateral branch (5 pairs).         -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Flowers solitary, rotate.         -   Flower number.—Average of 1 per lateral stem.         -   Flower fragrance.—Moderately faint, sweet and pleasant.         -   Flower aspect.—Outward to upright.         -   Flower longevity.—An average of 4 days.         -   Flower type.—Single.         -   Flower size.—Average of 2.9 cm in diameter and 1.1 cm in             depth.         -   Flower buds.—Elliptic to oblong in shape, average of 1.1 cm             in length and 5 mm in diameter, color; 138A to 143C, base             144B, surface texture is smooth and glossy with the sepal             portion smooth and dull.         -   Sepals.—5, ovate in shape, margin entire, average of 7 mm in             length and 3 mm in width, broadly acute apex, broadly             cuneate base, surface is smooth and matte on upper and lower             surface, color; young upper and lower surface; 138A, base is             144B, mature upper surface; 137B, mature lower surface;             137C.         -   Petals.—An average of 40 per flower, rotate and slightly             curved arrangement, narrow oblanceolate in shape, smooth and             glossy on upper and lower surfaces, margin entire, apex is             obtuse, average of 1.3 cm in length and 1.5 mm in width,             color opening upper surface; 62B, lower half 6B, base 4B,             opening lower surface; 58A, lower half 8B to 8D, fully             opened flowers upper surface; 72A, lower half 6C to 6D, base             4B, fully opened flowers lower surface; 72B, lower half 8B             to 8D, non-fading.         -   Petaloid.—Rotate near vertical and placed around stamens,             average of 30, lanceolate in shape, margin entire, upper and             lower surface moderately to highly glossy and glabrous,             average of 6 mm in length and 0.75 mm in width, color of             both surfaces immature; 4B, base NN155C to NN155D, color of             both surfaces mature; 4C, base NN155C to NN155D.         -   Calyx.—Rotate in shape, average of 6 mm in length and 1.6 cm             in diameter.         -   Peduncle.—1.9 cm in length and 1.5 mm in diameter, held             straight on top of lateral branch, color; 151C, slightly             tinged 182C to 182D.         -   Pedicel.—None. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Pistils.—About 5, average of 2 mm in length, stigma is             triangular shaped and N144A to N144B in color, style is an             average of 2 mm in length and N144A to N144B in color, ovary             is 143C in color.         -   Stamens.—Average of 60, anthers are dorsifixed and narrow             oblong in shape, average of 0.5 mm in length, and 12A in             color, filaments are 4 mm in length and NN155D in color,             pollen is moderate to high in quantity and 6A in color.         -   Fruit.—Fruit and seed production was not observed under the             conditions tested. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Delosperma plant named ‘WOWDRY1’ as described and illustrated herein. 